Defense Secretary Ash Carter called the deadly terrorist attacks in Belgium Tuesday a reminder that "we must and will deal a lasting defeat" to Islamic State group militants, both in the Middle East and beyond.
The comments came as authorities tried to piece together the scope of a series of bombings in the Belgian capital of Brussels which killed at least 30 and injured more than 150 individuals.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident, but the tragedy came just days after the arrest of a key suspect in last November's terrorist attacks in Paris, which were carried out by ISIL-inspired radicals.
Carter connected the two in his opening remarks at a House Armed Services Committee budget hearing Tuesday morning. Belgium is among the 26 countries in the U.S. led coalition to fight ISIL strongholds in the Middle East.
The defense secretary said the United States "stands ready to provide assistance to our friends and allies in Europe as necessary" in the aftermath of the attacks.
"Brussels is an international city that has been host to NATO and the EU for decades," he said. "Together, we must and we will continue to do everything we can to protect our homelands and defeat terrorists wherever they threaten us.
"No attack can shake our resolve to accelerate the defeat of ISIL."
Carter said U.S. officials are continuing to monitor the situation, "including to ensure that all U.S. personnel and citizens are accounted for."
U.S. officials have stepped up air strikes on ISIL targets in recent weeks, including "cash depots, oil revenues, and sites associated with (the group's) ambitions to develop and use chemical weapons," Carter said.
Committee officials condemned the attacks but also questioned the administration's strategy in the Middle East, saying the president needs to do more to outline his plans to defeat the terrorist group.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
